Happy Nowruz!

Making masks for Nowruz. Photo by Cory Grace.

The museums were packed on Sunday for our fourth annual celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Revelers of all ages spent the day listening to stories by Xanthe Gresham, attending sold-out concerts by vocalist Monika Jalili, and watching the colorful Nomad Dancers in the Freer courtyard. The day also included Haft Sin table displays, paper-flower arranging, traditional Persian food, and contemporary dance beats by Radio Javan. The younger set enjoyed “fire” jumping, and making masks based on characters from the Shahnameh, the Book of Kings, and other works of Persian literature.